Alternate B-R high school program graduates 13

Tuesday

Christina Dobbins was having a hard time concentrating in high school. She was distracted by large class sizes and wanted to spend her time talking to friends, not studying.

Christina Dobbins was having a hard time concentrating in high school. She was distracted by large class sizes and wanted to spend her time talking to friends, not studying.

“I did really bad in school. I goofed off, I didn’t pay attention, I just wanted to talk to my friends and I wouldn’t go to school,” said Dobbins, 18, after she graduated on Sunday from the Bridgewater-Raynham Regional School District’s alternative high school program – “Excel: Learning for Life.”

Dobbins was awarded the Robert Bauer Scholarship for her kindness and determination as the “underdog” who went “above and beyond” what was expected, said program director Bill Barber as he presented the award.

“Without the Excel program, not a lot of us would be here today,” said Dobbins in delivering her commencement address.

“We’ve done a lot more than people thought we would. We’ve grown up faster than those in day school.”

“For me, without the Excel program, I would not be going to college,” said Dobbins who plans to attend Massasoit Community College in the fall for two years and then transfer to Bridgewater State College to major in psychology. Ultimately, she wants to work with teens, possibly as a therapist.

B-R School Committee Chairman Ron Pacy congratulated the students for earning their high school diploma.

“We’re here to celebrate your courage to complete your education, I’m sure it’s not been easy,” said Pacy. “But you’ve done it and I congratulate each of you.”

Pacy encouraged graduates to continue learning, particularly from failure, to take risks and challenge themselves.

He urged them to avoid being consumed by a rush to judgment and be grateful for what they have.

“You faced many barriers to be here today and you’ve overcome them,” said B-R Superintendent Jacqueline Forbes. “It’s that same persistence and resilience to overcome life’s obstacles that has made America the great nation it is today.”

Commencement speaker Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz thanked the students and their families for getting involved in the Excel program.

“Whatever challenges you’ve had so far, you’re moving on. This is a step in the right direction no matter what you want to do,” said Cruz, who also serves on the program’s board of directors.

Cruz encouraged the students to be productive members of society, to give back to their community because “someday you could make the difference in someone else’s life.”

Excel student Shayna Cavanio wants to make that difference and has stepped up to mentor students new to the program.

Cavanio, 17, entered the program after missing a great deal of school due to medical reasons. She says she got to the point where she didn’t want to go to school when program director Barber suggested the program.

“I love it, it’s a great place, it feels like home, I wish I could stay longer. If I’m having a bad day, I love knowing that I’ll be going to school at night,” said Cavanio who hopes to go to Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical School District in the fall to be a medical assistant. Some day, she hope to go to nursing school.

Cavanio received the Bill Bianchini Memorial Scholarship, sponsored by Clark’s Shoes, which will pay $5,000 a year for four years of the recipient’s tuition.

Excel classes are typically three days a week from 5:30 to 8 p.m. and meet at the B-R High School. Class sizes are approximately 10-12 students per class.

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